Maher wrote in a statement Saturday that he regrets using the slur to refer to himself as a house slave during a segment on his "Real Time with Bill Maher" show Friday night. He wrote that he slept poorly Friday night after realizing he shouldn't have made the remark.

The comedian was roundly criticized after the show aired. HBO said Saturday it would not re-air the segment.

Maher was speaking with Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska when he used the slur.

The comedian immediately waved off audience groans.

Sasse wrote on Twitter that he wished he had immediately criticized Maher for using the term. Activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton quickly criticized Maher, and it remained a top-ranked topic on Twitter on Saturday morning.

Bill Maher has apologized for using a racial slur on his HBO show.Maher wrote in a statement Saturday that he regrets using the slur to refer to himself as a house slave during a segment on his "Real Time with Bill Maher" show Friday night.